TIBET, 16TH CENTURY

An important Sakya scholar from the kingdom of Mustang, Lowo Khenchen Sonam Lhundrub traveled widely throughout his lifetime, and taught at the celebrated Sakya and Ngor monasteries in Central Tibet. Compare the ornamentation and iconography with both a contemporaneous bronze figure of Sonam Lhundrub sold at Christie’s New York, 21 March 2018, lot 305, and a contemporaneous portrait of the same illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 66792.

The inscription on the top of the lotus base reads: Homage to Jamyang Sönam Lhündrup!
The bronze is further inscribed: The Sakya monk Tsün[drü] Zang[po] commissioned [this image] in order to repay [his] father’s and mother’s kindness. May they always be cherished in all lifetimes! Mangalam!

Special thanks to Dr Yannick Laurent for his assistance with this lot.